Monthly Archives: October 2013

If you have considered green energy for a while, but are not sure where to begin, read on. Perhaps you thought it was too difficult or expensive? Move your home into the future by applying the great tips within this article.

When you’re coming up with a design for your outdoor lighting project, think about getting lamps that are solar powered. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run. This will save significant energy. It also means you don’t need hard wired outdoor lights.

TIP! To save money on your electric bills, simply try to minimize the electricity you use. For example, when an appliance is not in use unplug it.

Keeping your windows shaded to keep sunlight out of the house will greatly conserve energy. Shades or curtains can also help. Utilizing both of these methods will decrease you need for an air conditioner unit, since your home will not be as warm. You will save energy and money as well.

Find out what energy options your community has available. Investigate costs for using those utilities, and be aware of any legislation about energy costs. It might be good to switch to natural gas or well water, as an example.

The power-storing batteries of your solar system should be installed close to the cells. Power is less likely to be lost in cables this way. Additionally, it avoids problems with shading and capacity reduction.

TIP! If you’re designing any kind of outdoor lighting, you may want to think about installing solar-powered lamps. These lamps are very cheap, as they require no external power source, just the sun.

Keep your refrigerator properly maintained. Since refrigerators are one of the high-consumption appliances, it’s crucial that you keep it running efficiently. Be sure that you’re regularly cleaning the dust that builds up near the heating coils. In addition, be sure your door seal is tight and clean.

If you are really committed to going green, one way to do so is to limit how often you use your electric heater in winter. Buy more warm clothing and use a fireplace to add heat to your home. Keep in mind that cooler air is better for your breathing while you sleep as it prevents your airways from becoming dry.

Don’t turn the thermostat up higher than needed in your home. If it’s chilly, put on warmer clothes. When your heat is turned to a higher temperature, unnecessary energy is being used too much.

TIP! Use solar heating systems to heat all your water in order to save money. Using natural gas or electricity is not as efficient as solar power, and solar water heaters can keep the water temperature steady.

Explore the possibility of using a solar-powered oven for some of your baking needs. You can make one out of a box, wood, and some foil. Solar ovens can get hotter than 300 degrees, and doesn’t use any energy source besides the sun, so you are reducing your carbon footprint and saving money.

Carpool so you can use less fuel. Parents can trade off driving duties and carpool neighborhood kids to school together. If you live near another family and friends, then synchronize your grocery shopping days and take turns being the driver.

One of the easiest ways to get started with making your home more energy-efficient is to enlist the help of your electric company. Many utility companies have tools on their websites that will help you see how much energy you use, right down to the hour, as well as, ways to reduce your electric consumption and energy costs. Electric companies can also show you how to get the best green-energy appliances and light bulbs.

TIP! Wear lightweight, natural fabric during the summer instead of running your air conditioner. Cotton and other natural fibers, draw the moisture away from your skin, and allow you to stay cooler.

So how do you go about altering things at home so that green energy can be put to good use? You have the necessary information, now it’s time to put it to use in your life. You will be quite excited about the results once you get underway.

Like most people, you probably don’t really think about the environment when you are at home, using energy. However, every choice you make impacts the environment in some way. There are many ways in which you can use green energy that will make your home more environmentally friendly. The following information will show you how to go about using green energy technology.

Consider installing solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. These inexpensive lamps require no external power source and can run entirely on solar power. This doesn’t merely save energy. Another added convenience is that they do not require any wiring for you to enjoy outside lighting.

TIP! Choose solar-powered lights when installing outdoor lighting in your yard. These inexpensive lamps require no external power source and can run entirely on solar power.

Changing your heating to solar water can reduce the price to heat your water, hot tub and pool. When you heat water with natural gas or electricity, it isn’t as efficient as using a solar alternative. In the United States there are many tax deductions for energy efficient green products.

Wind Turbines

Do you happen to own some farmland? Companies are actually looking for space to put wind turbines in, and a small part of your property can be used as one of those spots. Your home and the surrounding residences will get some free power. Don’t worry, wind turbines don’t take up a lot of room.

TIP! You can save electricity by unplugging chargers when they are not in use. Even if you are not charging your laptop, cell phone or mp3 player, just having it plugged in uses energy.

If you heat your home with fuel oil, inquire about switching over to biodiesel. A lot of the existing systems can be modified with minimal parts or alterations. Biodiesel will burn cleaner than petroleum, which helps to protect the environment.

When weather is good, skip the energy-hogging dryer and dry your clothes on an outdoor clothesline. You’ll love how your clothes smell after being sun-dried. They will smell a lot fresher than being dried in the drier. Additionally, you will save both money and energy.

When thinking about home solar systems, think about how much energy will be produced during winter. This can prevent surprises in the winter, so you ensure your home has proper energy inventory. However, you should also include any refunds you will get from your utility company for excess energy generated in summer!

Storm Doors

In homes with storm doors and windows, air flow is controlled better. Storm doors and windows stop drafts from letting in so much cold air. Homes equipped with storm windows and doors can see an increase in energy efficiency of up to 45 percent.

If you’d like to be more environmentally friendly and cut down on your energy costs, try wearing warmer clothing. A sweater that is light can provide 2 degrees of extra warmth, while a heavy one provides 4. It’s not necessary to dress good at home, so grab a sweater to save money.

TIP! Biodiesel is a great alternative to the standard oil used to heat a home. Switching to biodiesel is often doable without system modification.

Desktop computers are very power hungry. Try using a laptop as an alternative. This can cut up to 75% of your electrical use, especially if you are frequently on the Internet or using word processing software. An added bonus is the portability of a laptop- you can take it anywhere you go!

Search for available rebates when you use renewable energy. Sometimes, the local electric company will provide rebates to cover the cost of upgrading. The federal government offers tax write-offs and other credits in return for your changes. These credits and rebates could reduce the cost associated to installing green technology in your house.

Make reminders for yourself. These reminders can help make sure you are doing all you can to conserve energy. Just being conscious of the energy that you use will help you reduce them significantly. If you are specifically focusing on reducing your electricity and water consumption, then you are going to be more conscious of lights left on, or dripping taps.

TIP! Dry your clothes on a line or rack in the summer instead of a dryer. The sun gives your clothes a great smell.

A really good energy saving tip is to change your boiler. Many old boilers were not made with saving energy in mind, whereas new boilers tend to be more energy efficient. They produce much less carbon dioxide that benefits you, and they cut down on energy costs.

Energy Star appliances help save energy. This is your guarantee that your new appliances will use less energy, and therefore cost you less to run. This rating can promise anywhere from a 20-50% difference in energy costs, depending on the brand and the specific appliance.

Try to resort to your microwave whenever possible. Heating up your oven will use far more energy than a quick trip through the microwave. So, never shy away from the microwave when using it is an option. You will save time, money, and energy by making this choice.

TIP! Using solar energy is one good way to heat water. There are many solar hot-water appliances to get the job done.

Water heaters with on-demand technology exist today, and they are a great way to use green energy. Traditional water heaters run constantly, heating the water when it’s completely unnecessary. The water heaters that heat on-demand only heat water that is immediatly needed and save a lot on energy costs.

Many people typically don’t turn off lights, machines and appliances that they are not using. This simple action can save anyone a lot of money on monthly bills. Always take a few minutes to think before you leave your home and turn off all your appliances.

Always maintain modern, energy-efficient windows at home. There are several benefits in using these windows, including a decrease in energy bills and less condensation on the windows.

Energy Star

A simple way to identify appliances that are energy efficient is to search for an ENERGY STAR logo. The guidelines that ENERGY STAR appliances must meet are set by the U.S. Department of Energy and additionally the EPA In many cases, you won’t be able to get a tax rebate from any appliance that doesn’t feature these logos.

Like most people, you probably haven’t thought about the environment much. You can start to change, though, now that you have more information about using green energy. By utilizing the tips from this article, you can include green energy at home to help do your part to have a positive environmental impact.

There is a lot of green energy information out there, and it can all be a little overwhelming. The following article is going to give you simple advice to bring green energy into your home.

The government has set up several incentive programs to help consumers switch to renewable energy sources. Check with the local government and see what programs are available to you. You can qualify for installation of solar power at little to no cost.

Provide Energy

Do you own a farm? If you have a lot of land, energy companies will pay you for the right to set up a wind turbine on it. This installation will provide energy while taking little space and it will provide energy to you and perhaps your neighbors.

Replace or clean your furnace filters yearly, and recheck them monthly. Filters can also be installed in every warm-air register. This will keep everything out of the air ducts, keeping your energy efficiency high.

TIP! A simple way to save energy is to close the curtains. You could also try putting in curtains or blinds.

Biodiesel fuel might be an option if your current heat source is fuel oil. Many heating systems are able to change over to some biodiesel use without needing modifications or extra parts. Biodiesel burns cleaner and more efficiently than conventional petroleum, reducing your home’s environmental impact during the winter.

Don’t run the dishwasher unless it’s full in order to save energy and money. Don’t run it with only two or three dishes inside. Once you learn how to properly fill a dishwasher, you will be amazed at the number of dishes that can be washed in one load. Think carefully about where you place each dish for optimal storage in the washer.

Using solar energy is one good way to heat water. You can go shopping for a solar system that will heat your water. You may pick between a direct or indirect circulation system. If you have been plagued by frozen or broken pipes in the past, an indirect one could be for you.

Winter Months

If you are considering the installation of home solar energy, make sure you are aware of how much energy you will receive during the winter months. That way you won’t run out of energy during winter months, and you will have more than enough in the summer. If you’re using a net-usage plan, in the summer you’ll get cash back from your utility provider.

Use a green and tankless model as opposed to a tank-style water heater. These still use gas and electricity to heat water, but they heat only what you use instead of continuously heating the whole tank. There are various options when it comes to tankless water heaters, from heating enough water for your entire home to ones that only serve one faucet.

TIP! Do you have a lot of land? If so, or if you have family who does, consider renting out some of your land to a company that will install a simple wind turbine. You and the neighbors can relish in the free energy and installation, if it doesn’t require too much space.

A solar oven is a great consideration if you are an avid baker. Common items, such as a heavy cardboard box, some shiny foil and an old window are all that you need. You can reach an oven temperature of 300 degrees or more without using any other source of energy besides the sun. It only takes a few minutes to build a solar oven.

If you’re one of a lot of people who want to have a greener life and you desire to save our planet’s energy, there’s lots of things that you can do. Perhaps you don’t have money to spend on making your home more green, but it is possible to start by maintaining smaller things, like clean filters and regulated temperatures. Reduce your water heater to 120 degrees, this can save you a lot of money. Every small change helps!

Think about using a carpool for work and other activities in order to reduce the amount of fuel you use. If you have children organize carpooling with other parents in your neighborhood. If you are located close to other families, agree to do your grocery shopping at the same time and rotate who drives each week.

TIP! Do things like wash your clothes inside some cold water, if you can. Almost 90% of the power you use to do laundry is simply used to heat the water.

While it is an old idea on saving energy, it is a great idea to make it a habit to turn off the lights when you exit a room or your home. If you establish a habit of extinguishing your lights, you will be amazed at the amount of energy you can save in the long run. You will also see a decrease in your power bill.

When buying wood, think about buying bamboo. Bamboo is a green, grass product, but it is much stronger than most of the commercial wood types. Bamboo grows quickly and it used for several products including flooring. Because bamboo is so renewable, the need for recycling is lessened, which saves energy.

Use your electric company to help you get started making your home a more energy-efficient place. Utility companies often have web site tools that let you see the amount of energy you use and ways to reduce the consumption. They may also have programs to help you purchase energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.

TIP! If you use fuel oil to heat your home, ask a professional if you can use biodiesel. Some systems can easily be changed to biodiesel without having to make major modifications or installing extra parts.

While wading through the sea of ideas online isn’t fun, getting started with the tips listed here will be. You will be surprised at how easy it can be to make the changes needed to get started with green energy. Using these tips will benefit both your family and the environment.

You may not know a lot about green energy, but by making use of the advice and tips in this article, you will begin to see how helpful and important it is to you and the environment. There are many different things you can implement into your home in order to utilize green energy, and this article provides you with many great ideas.

A simple way to save energy is to close the curtains. Another option is installing darkening shades. Since your home will become cooler, you will not have to use the air conditioning that much. Not only does this conserve energy, but it lowers your utility bills.

TIP! Lower heating costs with solar heating systems for your pools or hot tubs. Using gas or electricity to heat water isn’t efficient.

There are many government incentive programs you can take advantage of when it comes to green energy. If you are interested in getting free money to improve your home you should contact your local government for more information. There might be programs in your area that can allow you to install solar or wind energy solutions for free or with taxable deductions if you qualify for them.

Conserve energy by unplugging chargers when you aren’t using them. Chargers for your electronics, such as an iPod or cell phone, are always using electricity, even when they’re not in use, so unplug them when you can.

Wind Turbines

TIP! The government has made grants for investing in renewable energy available to the public. Talk to your local representative to see if programs operate in your neighborhood.

Do you or your family own a farm? Companies are actually looking for space to put wind turbines in, and a small part of your property can be used as one of those spots. Your home and the surrounding residences will get some free power. Don’t worry, wind turbines don’t take up a lot of room.

Wash clothing in cold water. If you use warm or hot water in your washing machine, almost 90% of your energy use goes towards heating the water. As long as your detergent is good, cold water washing can be just as effective as warm water. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.

If you use fuel oil to heat your home, speak with a technician to see if it’s possible to change to bio-diesel. Many systems allow a switch to biodiesel or biofuel with slight modifications. Biodiesel is a better fuel because it has a cleaner burn and is more efficient.

TIP! Become a better energy consumer, and save electricity in your home by unplugging chargers for your electronic devices when you are not using them. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw “phantom power” if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.

When not at home, use window coverings. This cools down your house and lowers energy use. Pay particular attention to covering the windows on the south side of your house. They typically admit the most sun. When possible, however, cover all of your windows with special shades like roller shades, roman shades or dark, thick curtains.

Only using the dishwasher when it is full will save you money and energy. If you only have a couple of dishes, do not put them in the dishwasher and turn it on. You may be shocked to learn the number of dishes that can be loaded into a dishwasher. Experiment with different ways of loading the dishwasher in order to fit in as many dishes as possible.

There are a lot of things you can do if you want reduce your environmental footprint on the planet. Many of these options will not cost you money, but will instead save you money, like cleaning your furnace filter monthly and turning down your thermostat when you are leaving your home. Setting your water heater’s temperature to a maximum 120 degrees will also save money. Anything you can do will help!

Green Energy

After understanding these green energy tips, soon you’ll see how much it can benefit you. Naturally, green energy benefits the environment as well. Use these tips to see how simple it is to go green.